Adjustable shoe tree or stretcher.



No. 857,055. PATBNTED JUNE 1a, 1907. J. s. HANSEN. ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE 0E STRETGHBR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11,1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. HANSEN, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE OR STRETCHER.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. HANSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Shoe Trees or Stretchers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, although primarily intended for a shoe tree or form for use in holding completed shoes in shape, is adapted to use as a follower or filler in factories, and is readily applicable to regular lasts for the manufacture of shoes.

In using a shoe tree it is desirable that it be of a size capable of restoring the shoe to its original stretched condition, and accordingly various longitudinally extensible shoe trees have been proposed, including a racltbar and pinion construction (shown in U. S. Patent No. 737,321).

My invention relates to this class, but aims to do away with the rackbar, and to avoid the consequent step-by-step adjustment, pro viding instead thereof a handle-operated lengthener capable of lengthening and positively locking the last at any point whatever.

The advantage is obvious. i/Vhatever may be the length of the shoe, the tree can be adjusted and locked to the precise length, with the utmost nicety and certainty, thereby stretching or holding the shoe exactly as desired, whereas with the rackbar construction the adjustment must correspond to the teeth of the rackbar, and even then the lock ing was not positive and strong.

A further advantage of my construction is that it enables'me to have the handle detach able. Also the rackbar construction is expensive, whereas my construction is inexpensive.

Further advantages, and the constructional details, of my invention will be pointed out more at length in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodi ment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent, in side elevation, my improved shoe tree, parts being broken away to show the internal construction; Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof; Fig.4 is an end view of the cam plate or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11,

slotted end of the handle, indicating in dotted lines the relative position of the hingebar.

The last or tree may be of any divided type, comprising a forepart 1 and a heelpart 2, pivotally connected at 3 by a hinge-bar or rod 4, preferably flat and set edgewise in a kerf 5 in the heel-part to which it is secured by a pin 6 and slot 7, permitting the heel-part to be brought tightly against the forcpart as shown in Fig. 1, or separated therefrom as shown in Fig. 2.

On its upper edge, the bar 4 has a stud S entering a cam slot or spiral groove or way 9 provided in the inner end of a handle 10. For convenience, this spiral slot or actuator 9 is in a ferrule 11, although it may be provided in any other way, so long as it is at the end of the handle. I prefer to have the stud 8 project into the handle, or engaging cam 9, rather than to have the cam act on a notch or cut in the edge of the bar 4, as it is more convenient, although I do not limit myself to all the details shown. This construction enables the handle to be readily separated from the last by endwise removal, and, to retain the handle normally as shown, I provide a lug 12 on the ferrule 11, for entering an undercut groove 13. To insert the handle, the lug 12 is placed in line with the kerf 5, to permit the handle to be pushed down into engagement with the bar 4, and when rotated the lug 12 engages the groove 13, thereby holding all parts in operative relation.

To stretch the shoe or adjust the tree, the handle is rotated, thereby shifting the position of the pin 6 along the slot 7 and correspondingly adjusting the last lengthwise with the utmost nicety. Also it matters not how much or how little the handle is turned, the last is always positively locked and cannot possibly slip, as the pin always stands in direct line with the center, the bar 4: necessarily passing diametrically beneath the handle end. Moreover, no separate locking means or movement is necessary.

This construction is strong, as the kerf 5 snugly supports the bar 4 along its opposite sides and the longitudinal thrust is transmitted to the broad cylindrical bearing of the handle. The ready removability of the handle is also of considerable importance, especially to travelers and in packing the trees, l etc. the pin 6 and slot 7 then retaining the heelpart and forepart together and permitting them to be swung into collapsed or folded position for packing.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A last, comprising a forepart and a heelpart extensible lengthwise, combined with a longitudinally movable connecting member, and a rotary operating handle for said mem ber, said handle being freely removable from the last when the last parts and connecting member are in operative position, and provided with retaining means for securing said handle when in operative position.

2. A last comprising a forepart and a heelpart extensible lengthwise, combined with a longitudinally movable connecting member, and a rotary operating handle standing perpendicularly to said connecting member, the end of said handle and the top edge of said connecting member having cooperating en gaging parts for adjusting said last parts lengthwise, said handle also having a lug extending laterally adjacent its lower end and said heel-part having an undercut groove located to receive said lug when said cooperating engaging parts of the connecting member and handle are in operative position with relation to each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. HANSEN.

l/Vitnesses GEO. I-I. MAXWELL, M. J. SPALDING. 

